Ruben Amorim will instantly solve two major Manchester United problems - but there’s a catch

Anyone inside the Jose Alvalade Stadium on Tuesday night will have seen how much Ruben Amorim meant to Sporting Lisbon.

There was a huge banner before kick-off, a celebratory lap of honour at the end of a pulsating thumping of Manchester City, and a joyous lift from his players that saw the outgoing Amorim cheered into the night sky.

A 4-1 Champions League win over City was the perfect parting gift from Amorim and his vibrant side to the Sporting supporters. A crackling second-half atmosphere lifted performance levels on the pitch and the noise levels off it.

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And while this night belonged to Amorim and Sporting, it will have built the excitement in one half of Manchester at the prospect of what could be achieved at Old Trafford.

United’s recent European record reads one win in 11, Sporting under Amorim have three from four in the Champions League and play with an attacking verve and tactical nous that has been sorely lacking in the red half of Manchester.

Watching Sporting tear through City time and again in Tuesday’s second half, there were clear signs of where United will instantly improve under Amorim: identity and togetherness.

United have struggled on both counts in recent years and perhaps the most damning indictment of Erik ten Hag is no one knew his style of play two-and-a-half years into his reign. That won’t be the case with Amorim. He has fashioned a clear structure at Sporting in his favoured 3-4-3 formation, while he’s also been able to unite the squad, fans and club behind the common cause.

The scenes at the final whistle on Tuesday showed how much this manager means to his players and how much his players mean to him. In contrast, United have looked fractured in recent times with fallouts from Jadon Sancho to Cristiano Ronaldo serving notice of dressing room discord.

Amorim has the character, personality and proven experience to foster the right environment behind a clear plan. That will be two early steps on the road to redemption.

But anyone expecting United to simply swat aside teams in the swashbuckling, goalscoring style Sporting have shown this season is getting carried away.

Amorim is a fine coach but there’s work to do at Old Trafford. He set up with a compact framework against City given the calibre of opposition, but domestically Sporting are often dominant. He asks a lot of his players, from centre backs on the ball, to discipline in midfield and work rate out wide.

United’s players will have to adapt and buy in. A potential switch to a back three will likely need time to refine, while the energy and endeavour of the wide players must improve on what we’ve witnessed so far this season. It will be evolution rather than revolution.

Amorim’s Sporting farewell was, in his words, a dream. Now he must bring Dreams back to the Theatre.